Evaluation plan compilation

Guidelines for compiling an evaluation plan, which integrates all the steps of the planning phase: CCAM system description, research questions, evaluation methods, data specification and tools, and experimental design.

Given the multiple iterations involved in the planning process, it is recommended to compile the formal report on the final evaluation plan only after completing the iterative process and establishing a feasible plan. This prevents unnecessary revisions when making adjustments during the planning phase.

The evaluation plan serves as a guide for the evaluation work throughout the project. It is recommended that the evaluation plan be published as a public report of the project, specifying the final list of research questions and the methods for answering them. This facilitates dissemination of the planned evaluations and allows for concise method descriptions in the evaluation results report.

Despite thorough planning, adjustments to the methodology may be necessary during its execution. It is important to document any changes and the rationale behind them in the evaluation results report, particularly if the evaluation plan has already been published. This ensures that the final methodology is accurately documented for future use and correct interpretation of the results. If the evaluation plan is included in the final results report, only the executed methodology is published.

Any deviations from the EU-CEM guidelines, along with their justifications, should be specified in the reports. Additionally, explain the reasoning behind the selection of evaluation and impact areas.

The guidelines below cover the following topics:

• How to compile the evaluation plan
• How to describe the linkages between different evaluation and impact areas
• How to ensure resilience of the evaluation plan